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VANCOUVER — Kirby Fabien is encouraged to see the National Football League signing college free agents from Canada.

Whether he becomes one of them remains to be seen.

“It’s still in play. It’s still an option,” said the 22-year-old offensive lineman from the University of Calgary, the seventh overall pick in the 2012 CFL college draft. “It’s just a waiting game. I don’t know for sure what’s happening, to tell you the truth.”

Fabien wrote his final economics exam Monday afternoon and has completed the requirements for his undergraduate degree. The two-time first team All-Canadian has a year of eligibility remaining -- CIS players can play up to five seasons -- but he has no intention of returning to school for post-graduate work.

Professional football will now be his chief area of study.

“If the NFL thing pops up, I’ll have to take it,” Fabien said. “I’m not sure about the timeline. But I won’t be a guy who waits around and hopes and schemes for a shot, if it’s not actually happening for me.”

CFL rookie camps open in a month, and indications are that Fabien will be with the Lions’ cubs in Kamloops, barring an unexpected turn of events.

“I was told Indianapolis originally put something on the table, and pulled it off,” said Blake Nill, the Dinos’ head coach. “That’s (NFL) the goal of a lot of kids. The reality is, most of the time, it doesn’t occur.”

Only one Canadian -- Rice tight end Luke Willson, from LaSalle, Ont. -- was selected in the seven rounds of the NFL draft. He went to Seattle in the fifth round, 158th overall.

But Stefan Charles, a defensive lineman from the University of Regina, was among a number of CIS players signed as undrafted free agents immediately following the draft. Charles and McMaster offensive tackle Matt Sewell were two of 14 UFAs added by the Tennesee Titans.

McMaster defensive end Ben D’Aguilar was offered a rookie camp tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Eastern Michigan offensive lineman Andy Mulumba was signed by Green Bay.

Charles, Sewell, D’Aguilar and Mulumba are among the top-rated players eligible for the 2013 CFL Canadian college draft, scheduled for May 6.

Fabien knows Sewell well, since they were the only two CIS players invited to play in the 88th East-West Shrine game, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., in January.

“Yeah, it’s good to see Matt get a shot,” Fabien said. “He’s got good size (6’8”, 335 pounds) and good feet. It shows that guys in the CIS can get those offers. It’s encouraging to see someone else from Canada do it.”

By mutual agreement, Fabien said he and his agent, Jonathan Hardaway, agreed not to discuss football options during exam time which coincided with the NFL draft.

“My agent talked to a few teams,” Fabien said. “I’m not sure which teams they are. But there have been no contract offers, and I don’t know how serious they are yet.”

The second player selected by the Lions in the 2012 draft after defensive tackle Jabar Westerman, Fabien flew to Vancouver for an introductory news conference. He returned to Calgary, however, without signing a contract and decided to play one more season for the Dinos, to the chagrin of Lions GM Wally Buono.

Calgary defensive lineman Linden Gaydosh is expected to be the first overall selection in the 2013 draft and Nill doesn’t expect him back.

“The one thing I can tell you is Linden Gaydosh wants to play football,” Nill said. “Whether it’s an ego or a pride thing, he’s the kind of kid I know would want to be the No. 1 pick in the CFL.”

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